Rix split his squad into different groups for training this week before telling several of his deadline day signings that they would have to undergo an intensive fitness regime because he believes they are not yet fit enough to feature in the Hearts first team.

Among those players targeted to get their fitness levels up to scratch were Jambos' £850,000 record signing from Racing Genk, Mirsad Beslija, Finnish international Juho Makela, Czech duo Ludek Straceny and Martin Petras as well as Senegalese Ibrahim Tall.

Rix said: "It has been explained to them that they are not ready for the first team and they are not doing themselves justice.

"I want those guys who were not with me this week to work harder to get into the Hearts first team squad. I explained it to the guys and they have accepted it and are showing a great attitude."

Rix also praised the appointment of new Hearts director of football Jim Duffy and insisted that there has been no negative feedback from Jambos fans about Duffy's former managerial stint with Hibs.

The two men previously worked together at Chelsea and Portsmouth and Rix remains hopeful that both will stay well beyond the terms of their current contracts.

And he believes that apart from his wife Linda there is nobody better suited for the director of football role.

Rix said: "Everybody knows what I think of Jim Duffy. He is a top man and a great addition to this club.

"He has helped me no end already and there has been no adverse feedback to Jim's appointment and nobody has mentioned his Hibs links.

"I went to a supporters' meeting on Thursday night and they never even asked me about it to be honest. Paul Hartley used to play for Hibs and look how he performs for Hearts.

"The Hearts fans realise Jim is a good guy and we did say at the start that he would not come into the club because the Hibs connection was maybe too strong.

"You can appreciate when I first came into the club there was a lot of adverse publicity for myself and I did not need anything else to be used as ammunition against us.

"There is a lot involved in the running of the football club and there are a million things to be done.

"It is not just a case of coaching the lads, picking the team and getting the team ready for a Saturday, it is more than that.

"Jim helps with the academy and the scouting and I am disappointed he was not here before the transfer window.

"A lot of planning goes into the daily running of a football club and Jim's role as director of football is to act as a buffer and a link between the owner Mr Romanov and the day-today management team and I trust him implicitly.

"Jim can speak for Scotland and he does quite a good job here. This is a great appointment for Hearts and there is nobody I would rather see on board in this role than Jim, well apart from my missus Linda but I do not know how good her football knowledge is.

"Jim has been brought in to try and help me win football matches as I do not care who you are at managerial level, if you lose four on the trot you are under pressure.

"His experience is invaluable to me and this club and I am absolutely delighted to have him on board."

Hearts strikers Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar look set to return to the Jambos first team fold for the visit of Motherwell after last Saturday's shock 2-1 defeat against Aberdeen which left Hearts trailing leaders Celtic by 13 points.